111832: Ruling on a Muslim entering a church

What is the ruling on a Muslim entering a church to listen to a lecture that is being given there?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Entering churches for meetings and to listen to lectures is
not free of a number of haraam things, some of which have been discussed in
the answer to question no. 82836.

The scholars differed concerning the ruling on a Muslim
entering a church in the first place. There are a number of opinions:

1-

That it is haraam. This is the view of the Hanafis and
Shaafa’is, but the Shaafa’is limit the prohibition to churches in which
there are images, as it says in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (2/424),
Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj (2/63) and Haashiyata Qalyoobi wa ‘Umayrah ‘ala
Sharh al-Muhalla (4/236).

The Hanafis regard it as haraam in all cases, and they gave
as their reason the fact that they are abodes of the devils, as the Hanafi
Ibn Nujaym said in al-Bahr al-Raa’iq (7/364) and in Haashiyat Ibn
‘Aabideen (2/43).

2-

That it is makrooh. This is the view of the Hanbalis, but
some of them limited this to churches in which there are images. Shaykh
al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Fataawa
al-Kubra (5/327): The view which most of our companions hold is that it
is makrooh to enter churches in which there are images, and this is the
correct view concerning which there can be no doubt. End quote.

It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with
him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw
images in the Ka’bah and he did not enter until he had ordered that they be
erased. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3352).

(ii)

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: Jibreel promised to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) but he was late and the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) grew concerned. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) went out and saw him, and he told him of
his concern and he said to him: “We [angels] do not enter a house in which
there is an image or a dog.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5960).

(iii)

It was narrated that Aslam the freed slave of ‘Umar said:
When ‘Umar went to Syria, one of the leaders of the Christians made food for
him and called him. ‘Umar said: We will not enter your churches because of
the images that are in them – meaning the statues. Narrated by ‘Abd
al-Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (1/411 and 10/398).

3 – The third view is that it is permissible to enter
churches in general. This is the view of the Hanbalis, as it says in
al-Mughni (8/113) and al-Insaaf (1/496).

It is also the view of Ibn Hazm al-Zaahiri as it says in
al-Muhalla (1/400).

They quoted the following as evidence:

(i)

What was narrated about the conditions stipulated by ‘Umar to
the people of the Book to expand their churches and monasteries so that the
Muslims could enter them to spend the night or pass through them.

Al-Mughni (8/113).

(ii)

Ibn ‘Aa’idh narrated in Futooh al-Shaam that when
‘Umar came to Syria, the Christians made food for him and called him, and he
said: Where is it? They said: In the church, and he refused to go. He said
to ‘Ali: Take the people to eat lunch. So ‘Ali took the people and entered
the church, and he and the people ate lunch, and ‘Ali looked at the images
and said: What would be wrong if the Ameer al-Mu’mineen entered this place?

Al-Mughni (8/113).

By studying the evidence quoted above, it does not seem that
there is any clear evidence that it is haraam to enter churches. The fact
that there are images and statues in them or any other place does not mean
that it is haraam to enter it. The sin is on the makers of the images and
those who make the statues; the one who enters a place where those statues
are should advise and explain, but he does not have to leave that place.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to entering a house in which there is an image,
it is not haraam. Rather it is permissible to refuse an invitation because
of it as a rebuke to the host and to show that he has lost respect because
of his introducing something evil into his house. The one who sees it in the
host’s house does not have to leave, according to the apparent meaning of
Ahmad’s words. He said, according to the report of al-Fadl: If he sees an
image on the curtain that he did not see when he entered, that is less
serious than if it was on the wall. It was said: If he did not see it until
the food was placed before them, should he leave? He said: Do not make
things too difficult for us; but if he sees it he should rebuke them and
tell them not to do that. End quote.

Al-Mughni (8/113)

But at least it is makrooh to enter churches unnecessarily,
because the fact that the angels and the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) did not enter the house in which there were images
indicates that it is makrooh.

Moreover this being makrooh may reach the level of being
haraam if entering the church will lead to any bad consequences such as if
it means approving of the Christians’ shirk and their claim that Allaah has
a wife and son, exalted be Allaah far above that. Or if entering the church
is a sign of taking the Christians as friends and loving them, and so on.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (2/115):

If your going to the church is just to show tolerance and
lenience, then it is not permissible, but if it is done to call them to
Islam and create opportunities for you to do so, and you will not be taking
part in their worship and you are not afraid that you may be influenced by
their beliefs or customs, then it is permissible. End quote.